Harry’s fit... hurrah!
WORRIED England fans were assured yesterday that captain Harry Kane will be fit for tomorrow’s World Cup clash against the United States.
The Three Lions talisman was a doubt for the next stage of their Qatar adventure after suffering an ankle injury in the 6-2 thumping of Iran. Kane was due to have a scan on the knock which saw him substituted following a heavy challenge.
But goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said yesterday that the 29-year-old centre-forward appeared untroubled.
He said Kane had been training with the squad at the team’s Al Wakrah camp on the outskirts of the Qatari capital Doha.
Pickford said: “He’ll probably be a little bit sore but he’s fine. He was out on the grass with us today so that’s good. Harry is an unbelievable player. He sets an example in the squad. He’s the leader, the captain, we all look up to him.”
Kane did not score in Monday’s opener at the Al Khalifa International stadium, but was credited with two assists for England goals.
The news was welcomed yesterday by fans who had travelled to Qatar for the tournament.
Neal Weekes, 57, a Tottenham season ticket-holder from Greenwich, south-east London, said: “Harry’s injury worried all England fans but the scan result sounds promising.
“Harry is so important for the England team. It would be difficult to win the World Cup without him.”
His friend and fellow Spurs fan Fil Sollof, 57, from Loughton, Essex, said: “It would be devastating if we had lost him to injury but this news is very reassuring. When he went off I wasn’t particularly worried as we were in control of the game.
“All England fans will be praying
he will be injury free during the whole tournament.”
Defender Harry Maguire was said to be fine but James Maddison, who missed the Iran game was still working with the physiotherapists. Pickford said the Three Lions are confident they have the strength in depth if Kane or any of their other stars drop out. The Everton star also insisted the players had wanted Kane to wear the OneLove armband in support of LGBTQ rights. But he said the decision was taken “out of our hands” when it became clear that Kane might receive a yellow card. In the end, he wore a Fifa-approved armband with the slogan “no discrimination”.
Meanwhile, fans complained about the powerful air conditioning installed in venues to cool the desert temperatures for players.
Qatari fan Faisal Rasheed, 40, said he wore a sweatshirt during his country’s opening game, adding: “Actually, it’s too cold.”
A Japanese fan said: “I put on a jacket during the first half of the game at Al Bayt Stadium. I’ll wear long sleeves and long pants at the next game.”
Jack Grealish delighted a young fan who has cerebral palsy with a video call from Qatar – after performing a wiggly worm dance for him after scoring against Iran.
Finlay Fisher of Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, wrote to the midfielder after discovering the Manchester City star’s sister Hollie, 19, also suffers from the condition.
Grealish called Finlay, 12, and said: “I didn’t think I was going to score... but I was buzzing to get a goal and then I could do my celebration just for you.”